Today it is our distinct honor and pleasure to introduce Sharon Moon. This is a one of Russell’s most revered friends, colleagues, his mentor, and teacher. Russell met Sharon in 1998 when he was 23 years old (younger than her grandchildren are now).

Sharon was instrumental in pushing Russell towards studying the traditional method of Ashtanga Yoga in a real Mysore Room in NY. She has an enormous heart and has guided him over the years in his decisions. Sharon tells us about studying with David on the second floor of the the first Whole Foods Store in Austin, Texas in 1993!

Sharon shares with us an incredible story of her first harrowing marriage to an abuser, her subsequent unwanted pregnancies, what an illegal abortion was like in the 60’s, and how she made it out alive. Her next husband died in a tragic car crash that she witnessed firsthand. She spent the next chapter of her life getting strong, real strong, and cultivating deep inner healing on every level.

She recounts meeting Swami Satchidananda, her initiation into Paramahansa Yogananda’s Self Realization Fellowship, and attaining a double Black Belt in Taekwondo.

Sharon shares with us some of her experiences during her travels to Mysore, the UK, and Taiwan. But one of the most meaningful years of her life was the one she spent in the Kibera Settlements of Nairobi, Kenya, working for Russell as a yoga teacher, training new indigenous yoga teachers, and teaching 10,000 children a week. Something that Manju Jois, upon visiting her in Nairobi, catalyzed him to award her an Ashtanga Yoga Authorization on the spot.

Sharon is an interesting duality, a Texan, Jewess, street fighter, and a deeply maternal great-grandmother full of a giant well of loving kindness. We think you’ll enjoy this trip.

Sharon has been a student and practitioner of yoga for 45 years. Along with the yoga postures, her practice has also included study of the yogic texts, meditation, pranayama and chanting. Manju Jois is her Ashtanga teacher and she has been authorized by him and given his blessings to teach Ashtanga Yoga. She first learned Ashtanga from David Swenson in 1994 and will forever be grateful for this and what she continues to learn every time she practices with him. She has also been inspired by Nancy Gilgoff, Louise Ellis, Mark Darby and Dena Kingsberg. Sharon’s additional interest and experience includes a Black Belt in Cha Yon Ryu from Grandmaster Kim Soo, Tae Kwon Karate Association. She has also studied Tai-Chi Chuan with Fang Xiang Liu of Mainland China and Shi Jen Liao of Taiwan. Sharon is a State of Texas Certified Art Instructor and paints every chance she gets. She has attained Reiki Master level of the Usui method of Natural Healing, Reiki.

Sharon has taught yoga to the deaf and blind in Austin, Texas and Nairobi, Kenya and was honored by the Southwest Yoga Foundation for her work. She helped to organize the first annual free day of yoga in Austin. She also created the Ashtanga program, gave teacher training, and taught classes for many years at YogaYoga studios. Ashtanga Yoga has taken Sharon to many places in the world to teach classes, workshops and teacher training. Including a year in Taipei, Taiwan teaching and most recently spending a year in Nairobi, Kenya for the Jois Foundation (now known as Sonima) in partnership with Africa Yoga Project. Her primary role was in training a group of locals to be teachers, to then be hired to teach in the settlement schools, orphanages, special schools and prisons. Most of these teachers still remain as teachers for Africa Yoga Project.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SHARON ON HER WEBSITE

Listen Now…

The Finding Harmony Podcast is hosted, edited and produced by Harmony Slater and co-hosted by Russell Case.

A big heart of thanks to our friends, family, and students from around the world, who’ve generously supported this podcast through your comments, sharing, and financial donations.

Your contributions have allowed us to keep our podcast ad and sponsor free. Creating, editing and producing each episode takes a lot of time. It is a labor of love. And would not be possible without your kind support.  

If you’ve enjoyed today’s podcast, please consider supporting our future episodes by making a donation. Every little bit goes a long way and we are immensely grateful for any and all of your support.

Don’t forget to leave a review! ❤ And a 5★ Rating!

We love to read and respond to your comments - So drop us a note in the comments below and give us a shout out on IG!

Opening and closing music compliments of my dear friend teaching Ashtanga yoga in Eindhoven, Nick Evans, with his band “dawnSong” from the album “for Morgan.” Listen to the entire album on Spotify - Simply Click Here.
To purchase your own copy - Click Here.